Jose Mourinho was sent off in Chelsea on his return as a result of Richard Rios’ own goal, which gave the former Blues boss a 1-0 defeat in the Champions League on Tuesday.
Mourinho’s chances of winning against the team with whom he is most associated with were ruined by Rios’ costly blunder in the first half of Rios’ match at Stamford Bridge.
After taking over in 2004, Mourinho and then-owner Roman Abramovich won three Premier League titles and seven major victories in his two terms in charge.
Although the 62-year-old’s managerial success may be coming to an end after a decade without a league title, his west London debut was still a box office success.
Mourinho had just begun his season in charge of Fenerbahce, which he was fired from in August before making his way back to Benfica this month.
Although Mourinho’s former glory was attained here, Stamford Bridge has not been his happy hunting ground since.
Since leaving Chelsea for a second time in 2015, he has failed to win any of his seven matches at Manchester United, Tottenham, or now Benfica.
Also read: Mourinho Celebrates Benfica’s Resurrection With A Convincing Win.
In 2010, Mourinho’s only notable outing was when he led Inter Milan to a champion trophy win over Chelsea.
Mourinho, who owns a house close to Stamford Bridge, had insisted Chelsea’s fans would welcome him warmly on his most recent appearance after claiming he was “always a Blue” and still the “biggest” manager in the club’s history on Monday.
The match’s loud chanting of Mourinho’s name by Chelsea fans who gathered in unison to applaud him proved to be accurate.
At the climax of a flowing move, Vangelis Pavlidis forced Robert Sanchez to save in response to the Mourinho love-in.
When Dodi Lukebakio’s drive was pushed onto the near post by the Chelsea keeper, Sanchez made a second crucial stop.
Mourinho’s frustration
Heorhiy Sudakov should have done better with a chance that Sanchez gratefully smothered, and Mourinho’s game plan revealed weaknesses in Chelsea’s defense.
However, Rios’ blunder gave Chelsea the lead in the 18th minute, and they rode their luck.
Alejandro Garnacho was found inside Benfica by Pedro Neto, and Rios deflected the ball high into his own net from close range.
When Benfica fans threw missiles at Chelsea captain Enzo Fernandez, who had only a brief spell at the Portuguese club, marching down the touchline and gesturing to the supporters to stop the barrage, Mourinho’s luck was out, but he was still willing to play peacemaker.
Mourinho was right, but Chelsea showed less complacency, and Tyrique George should have doubled the lead when the young forward’s shot wide from a good angle at half-time.
After the break, Benfica failed to create the cutting edge needed to equalize.
Even a red card for Chelsea’s Joao Pedro for kicking Leandro Barreiro high in the closing seconds was insufficient to save Mourinho from a frustrating defeat.
Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea manager had to bemoan the first defeat of his Benfica reign, which was a welcome success.
Chelsea’s previous three games against Bayern Munich, Manchester United, and Brighton left them with questions about Maresca’s ability to take the organization to the next level.
Since Maresca took over the club last year, Maresca has won the UEFA Conference League and the Club World Cup, but Mourinho has slammed both of those accomplishments.
Source: Channels TV
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